Tape application



Sept. 21, 1965 R. A. CARLE ETAL TAPE APPLICATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNOV. 30, 1961 INVENTORS R. A. CARLE N.T. BLASOR ATTORN V5 Sept 21, 1965R. A. CARLE ETAL 3,206,911

TAPE APPLICATION Filed Nov. 30, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lav IN VEN TORS R.A. CARLE N. T. BLASOR sept. 21, 1965 R, A. CARLE ETAL 3,206,911

TAPE APPLICATION Filed Nov. 30, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /N VEN TORS RAGANT A TroR/VE Ys t United States Patent O 3,206,911 TAPE APPLICATIONRobert A. Carle and Norman T. Blasor, Bartlesville,

Okla., assignors to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Nov. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 156,041 7 Claims. (Cl. 53-137)This invention relates to the application of sealing tape. In oneaspect, the invention relates to a tape applying apparatus. In anotheraspect, the invention relates to a method for applying tape to anobject.

flhere are many instances in which it is necessary to apply an adhesivetape to an object. For example, in modern packaging the wrapped orbagged product often is sealed with an adhesive tape. Many products,such as carbon black, fertilizer, cement, lime, grain feeds, and othergranular or powdery materials are packaged in paper bags. One type ofcontainer suitable for such use is the open mouthed bag. An improvedmachine and method for closing open mouthed bags is disclosed in U.S.Serial No. 105,059, tiled April 24, 1961. This machine and methodutilize .strips of adhesive tape pressed over the closed end o'f thebag.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus and method forapplying tape to an object.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus and method forapplying strips of adhesive tape across the cl-osed mouth of a filledbag.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine and method forclosing and sealing illed bags including the yapplication of strips ofadhesive tapes thereto.

Other objects, aspects, and the advantages of our invention are apparentin the written description, the drawing andthe claims.

A tape applying apparatus according to our invention comprises asupport, a frame pivotally mounted on the support, actuating means topivot the frame, tape supply means mounted on the frames, a taping headresiliently attached to the frame, the head comprising a presser footpivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged to an extended position,guide, applicator and follow-up rollers on the foot, means to feed thetape from the supply means over these rollers and means to energize theactuating means to pivot the frame to cause the presser foot to pressthe tape against the object.

|Further, according to my invention is provided a method for applyingtape to an object lwhich comprises feeding the tape through a tapeapplication zone and causing this zone to swing through an arc to engagean object to be sealed and press the tape thereto.

Further, according to my invention there is provided a machine andmethod for closing and sealing a filled bag by gripping the lips of thebag mouth with ngers, rotating the fingers to roll the lips to close thebag mouth, .applying strips of adhesive tape across the rolled lips, andremoving the lingers.

In the drawing, FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a tape applyingapparatus.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation, partly in cross section and partly brokenaway, of the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevation of a tape control mechanism.

`FIGURE 4 is a diame-tric view of a bag closing machine utilizing thetape applying apparatus of FIGURE l.

Referring particularly to FIGURES l and 2, the tape applying apparatuscomprises a support 11, a frame 12 pivoted to support 1'1 by shaftZ13-and bearings 14. Frame 12 comprises support arm 16, and a pair ofcylindrical extensions 17. Supported by such extension 17 is a tapinghead 18. Each head 18 comprises a presser foot 19 to ice which areattached .a guide roller 21, an applicator roller 22, and a pair ofIfollow-up rollers 23 and 24. Follow-up roller 24 is attached by meansof a resiliently biased arm which is pivoted to foot 19. Also, supportedon presser foot v19 are knife 26, knife actuating cylinder 27, and tapecontrol mechanism 28.

Each presser `foot'i19 is supported on the corresponding taping head 18by a shoulder screw 29 in a drilled hole 30 and a shoulder screw 31 inan arcuate slot 32, and is biased toward an extended position by apiston 33 attached to foot y1'9 by a shoulder screw 34 and actingagainst a spring 36 in cylinder 37 which is attached to an ear 38 onhead y18 by a shoulder screw 39. Each exte-nsion 17 comprises a cylinder41, a piston 42 and a spring 43. A machine bolt 44 extends throughpiston 42 and slots 46 and thus permits the length of each extension toybe adjusted. Although machine bolt 44 provides sufficient `frictionwith the walls in cylinder 411 to hold each sealing head in place innormal operation, if an unusual force is applied these bolts slideupwardly in slots 46 thus preventing damage to some parts of theapparatus.

Also attached to head 18 is a knu-rled roller 47 which is provided witha nonreversing clut'ch 48. A pair of knurled rollers 49 is provided onframe 12 as shown to assist in feeding tape to the application zone.

Supported on the upper end of frame 12 is a tape supply apparatus 51.Apparatus 5-1 comprises a central cross arm 52 and a pair of rollersupport arms 53. Each arm 53 supports a pair of friction drums 54 towhich rolls 55 of tape are attached by thumb screws 56.

An electrical switch 57, having an actuating lever 58 is mounted onsupport 11, and a switch actuating cam 59 is attached beneath `cross arm52 thus actuating switch 57 as frame 1-2 approaches the vertical.

An air cylinder 61 is pivotally attached to one end to a `bracket 62 onsupport 111 and at the other end by a pin 63 to support arm y16.Actuating air is supplied to cylinder 61 through conduit 64 from asuitable source of air pressure (not shown).

A tape prestrip roller 66 is rotatively attached to a roll'er arm 67supported on an angle support 68 0n each side of support 11. Provisionfor adjustment of the position :of roller 66 is provided by slot 69 inarm 67 and machine bolt 70.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 3, each ltape control mechanism 28includes a small frame 71, a roller bracket 72, a roller 73 pivotallymounted in bracket 72, a hold down pin 74, a compression spring 76, anda rod 77. Preferably rod 77 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene to whichthe adhesive tape adheres but does not leave residual adhesive whenpulled therefrom. Pins 78 of roller 73 extend into slots 79 which permita relatively small amount of movement o'f roller 73 with respect to rod77, roller 73 at all times being biased toward rod 77 by spring 76acting against roller bracket 72.

A solenoid valve 81 is provided in conduit 64 and connected, through aswitch 82, with a source of electrical energy 83. A conduit 84 isprovided to connect knife-actuating cylinder 27 with a suitable sourceof pressure uid (not shown) and a solenoid Valve 86 controls the supplyof uid in conduit 84 and is actuated by switch 57 which `connects valve86 with a suitable source of electrical energy 87.

In the embodiment as illustrated in FIGURE 4, the bag closing machinecomprises a base 91 made of suitable structural materials such as thesteel channels illustrated. A vertical support column 92 is locatedcentrally on and attached to said base. A frame surrounds column 92comprising an octagonal number 93 attached to a hub 94, rotativelymounted around the upper portion of column 92, by a plurality of spokes96. A second octagonal member 97 is attached to a second hub 98- byspokes99. Hub 98 is rotatively mounted around the lower portion ofcolumn 92. First, second, third and fourth pairs of wall members101-101',k 102-102, 103- 103 and 104-104', respectively,extnhglgiorizontally from the four sides of member 97 forming,iespectively, first, second, third and fourth bag receiving pockets,spaced 90 degrees apart. Connecting members 105, 106, 107 and 108andbraces 109, 110, 111 and 112 complete the frame. A bag conveyor assemblycomprising a plurality of conveyor rolls 113 mounted between brackets114 forms the bottom of each` of the bag receiving pockets. Each ofthese conveyor assemblies is slidably mounted for limited verticalmovement between the wall members of the corresponding pockets throughthe use of a tongue 116 on each bracket and a grooved boss117 on thesurface of each wall member. A circular track 118 supported on base 91by adjustable bolts is adjusted to have a lower elevation at station onethan at stations two, three and four. Each of the bag conveyorassemblies is supported on track 118 by a wheel 119 attached to brackets114 by a branched leg 121.v

Fourr bag engaging andV closing means are provided, e'ach positionedabove and extending horizontally over one of the bag receiving pockets.Each comprises a pair of lingers 122, 122 eccentrically rotatable on theshaft 123, which shaft is, in turn, rotatable in the rotating frame, thelingers and the shaft bothy being actuated by the rotation ofthe frame.A conveyor 1-24 is provided for moving loaded bags into the bag closingmachine, and a conveyor 125 for removing the closed bag from themachine. The belts 126 and 127, driven froma power source (not shown)rotate over pulleys 128 and 129 toassist in moving the filled butunclosed bag into the machine. Suitable mechanism (not shown) but morefully described in the above identified application, is provided torotate fingers 122, 122 relative to shaft 123. Also, more fullydescribed in the above mentioned application are additional componentsof the machine including, for example, a framed indexing apparatus,timing and controlling means, bag moving mechanism, etc.

The operation of the taping apparatus shown at station 2 preferably'isassociated with the timing and indexing means for the frame so that thetaping operation is coordinated With the various operations of bagclosing.

In operation a filled but open bag is delivered by conveyor 124, thelips of the open mouth being guided by the belts 126 and 127 into thebag receiving pocket at station 1. Thefentrance of the bag into thispocket actuates the timing and indexing mechanism by actuating a switch(not shown) in the pocket. The indexing mechanism operates to causethefingers 122-122 to rotate relative to shaft 123, thus bringing thefingers together tightly on each side of the bag mouth. As the movementof the frame proceeds, the bag-moving from'staion 1 to station 2, shaft123 is rotated to rotate the attached fingers andV As the thus roll thelips of the-bag around the lingers. frame is turned to move the bag fromstation.. 1 to station 2 the associated bag conveyor assembly is raisedby the rising of track 118 to correct for the change in height of thebag due to the rolling of the lips.

When thebag reaches station 2, the lips are rolled and the fingers122122 are still within the roll. At this station the bag-tapingassembly is actuated. When the bag enters station 2 the frame 12 hasbeen rotated up and away from the position of the bag mouth (dottedposition in FIGUREy 1), cylinder 61 being retracted. With the sealingtape extending from roll 55 around knurled roller 49, knurled roller 47,guide roller 21, through tape control mechanism 28 and to applicatorroller 22'. When the frame 12 is rotated to the lifted position, roller66 engages the tape between rollers 47 and 49, to cause a fixed lengthof tape to be removed from the roll 55, the rotation of roll 47 in thereverse direction being prevented by nonreversing clutch 48. As themechanism is actuated by the closing of switch 82,

thus opening valve 81 permitting pressure fluid to enter cylinder 61,the frame is swung toward the vertical position. Prior to reaching thevertical position, however, the tape. As the frame and the pressor footcontinue side of the upper end of the bag to press the tape against thebag causing it to adhere thereto. As the frame 12 swings farther towardthe vertical, the presser foot 19 is lifted by contact lof the rollerswiththe bag thus compressing springs 36 permitting each presser foot torise smoothly following the contour of the bag at that vicinity. As thepresser foot rises across the top of the bag the tape is allowed tounreel past rollers 47, 21, 22 and 23, thus utilizing the slack whichwas obtained through the use of roller 66. Just prior to the timeA thatframe 12 reaches the vertical position, switch actuating ,cam 59 movesactuating lever 58 to close switch 57, thus energizing solenoid valve 86permitting pressure fluid to ow to knife actuating `cylinder 27, thusextending knife 26 to cut the tape. As the frame and the presser footcontinues their movement, follow-up roller 23 (and, follow-up. roller24, if provided) further smooth the adhesive tape against the bag, theserollers being permitted to follow down the opposite side of the bag -toa limited degree by the restoring action of the spring 36. In someinstances, this iinal action of smoothing the trailing edge of tape doesnot occur until the bag is moved from station 2.

When the tape is cut there is a tendency` for it to develop slack at thelower end. This permits the spring 76, through the action of rollerbracket 72 to push roller 73 to engage the tape` between this roller andthe rod 77, thus preventing the tape from falling free from the pressurefoot. As the next bag is contacted for sealing it is noted that tensionis immediately placed in the tape, thus lifting roller 78` freeing thetape from contact with the rod 77 and permitting it to move freely overroller 73.

As the indexing mechanism` is operated by the next bag entering station1, the bag, now sealed, is moved from station 2 to station 3. At station3 a bag pushing mechanism (not shown) is actuated, thus pushing the bagto conveyor 125, inthe vertical dotted position illustrated. The bagtilting apparatus 136 then is actuated to tip the bag onto the movingportion of conveyor 125. As each next indexing step occurs the fingerswhich are `at station 4, as they move to` station 1,l are rotatedrelative to shaft 123, thus moving the fingers to their openV positionready for reception of another bag for closure. Similarly the bagconveying assembly in that particular section is lowered by the loweringof track118 so that it is in position to receive a bag from conveyor124. As the particular bagwhich has just been sealed from station `2,that is, each time the ,indexing mechanism is actuated to begin themovement of a bag from station 1 to station 2, the tape sealingapparatus is` actuated by the opening of switch 82 to cause the frame 12to swing back to its retracted position. At the same time it will beseen that switch actuating cam 59A also releases lever 58 thuspermitting switch 57 to open. to close valve 86, permitting knifeactuating cylinder 27 to restore the knife 26 to its retracted position.

Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope ofour invention which sets forth in a tape-y sealing apparatusV and amethod for applying scaling tape to' an object.

We claim:

1. Tape applying apparatus comprising a support, a frame pivotallymounted on saidsupport, actuating means. to pivot said frame, a tapesupply roller rotatively mounted on said frame, a taping headresiliently attached to' said frame, said head comprising a presser footpivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged into an extendedposition, a guide roller, an applicator roller and a followup rollerrotatively mounted on said foot, means to feed tape from said supplyroller over said guide, applicator and follow-up rollers and means toenergize said actuating means to pivot said frame to cause said presserfoot to press said tape against an object to be taped.

2. Tape applying apparatus comprising a support, a frame pivotallymounted on said support, actuating means to pivot said frame, a tapesupply roller rotatively mounted on said frame, a taping headresiliently attached to said frame, said head comprising a presser footpivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged into an extendedposition, a guide roller, an applicator roller and a follow-up rollerrotatively mounted on said foot, means to feed tape from said supplyroller over said guide, applicator and followup rollers, a tape cuttingknife between said applicator roller and said follow-up roller, means toenergize said actuating means to pivot said frame, and means actuatedautomatically by the pivoting of said frame to cut said tape with saidknife.

3. Tape applying apparatus comprising a support, a frame pivotallymounted on said support, actuating means to pivot said frame, a tapesupply roller rotatively mounted on said frame, a taping headresiliently attached to said frame, said head comprising a presser footpivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged into an extendedposition, a guide roller, an applicator roller and a followup rollerrotatively mounted on said foot, means to feed tape from said supplyroller over said guide, applicator and follow-up rollers, a tape cuttingknife positioned between said applicator roller and said follow-uproller, means to energize said actutaing means to pivot said frame,means actuated by said frame when pivoted to cause said tape to be cutby said knife, and means positioned between said guide roller and saidapplicator roller to grip said tape when slack is induced therein due tocutting and to release said tape when said tape is placed under tensionas said presser foot applies said tape to an object to be taped.

4. Tape applying apparatus comprising a fixed support, a frame pivotallymounted on said support, an actuating fluid cylinder to pivot saidframe, a rst tape supply roller rotatively mounted on said frame, asecond tape supply roller rotatively mounted on said frame, a tapinghead resiliently attached to said frame, said head comprising a pressurefoot pivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged into an extendedposition, a guide roller, an applicator roller and a follow-up rollerrotatively mounted on said foot, means to feed tape from either of saidsupply rollers over said guide, applicator and follow-up rollers, a tapecutting knife positioned between said applicator and said follow-uprollers, means to supply pressure uid to said actuating cylinder topivot said frame, means actuated by the pivoting of said frame to cutsaid tape with said knife, means positioned between said guide and saidapplicator rollers to grip said tape when slack occurs therein as aresult of cutting and to release said tape when tension is applied bysaid presser foot pressing said tape against an object to be taped.

5. A bag closing machine comprising a rotatable frame, means forrotating said frame through a plurality of consecutive stationscomprising a lirst station and a second station, a bag receiving pocketformed in said frame in one side thereof, said pocket consecutivelyoccupying said stations during said rotation of said frame, means foractuating said rotating means When an open bag is moved into said pocketWhile it is occupying said first station, means for closing said openbag as said frame is rotated and said containing said bag is moved fromsaid iirst station to said second station, tape applying apparatus atsaid second station comprising a support, a frame pivotally mounted onsaid support, actutaing means to pivot said frame, a tape supply rollerrotatively mounted on said frame, a taping head resiliently attached tosaid frame,

said head comprising a presser foot pivotally mounted thereon andresiliently urged into an extended position, a guide roller, anapplicator roller and a follow-up roller rotatively mounted on saidfoot, means to feed tape from said supply roller over said guide,applicator and followup rollers, and means to energize said actuatingmeans to pivot said frame, thus causing said presser foot to press foottape against said bag to apply tape thereto.

6. A bag closing machine comprising a rotatable frame, means forrotating said frame in stages through a plurality of consecutive stagescomprising a first station and a second station, a bag receiving pocketformed in said frame on one side thereof, said pocket consecutivelyoccupying said stations during said rotation of said frame, means foractuating said rotating means when an open bag is moved into said pocketwhile it is occupying said rst station, means for closing said open bagas said frame is rotated and said pocket containing said bag is movedfrom said rst station to said second station, tape applying apparatuscomprising a support, a frame pivotally mounted on said support, uidcylinder actuating means to pivot said frame, first and second tapesupply rollers rotatively mounted on said frame, a taping headresiliently attached to said frame, said hear comprising a presser footpivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged into an extendedposition, a guide roller, an applicator roller and a followup rollerrotatively mounted on said foot, means to feed tape from said rst andsecond rollers alternately, a tape cutting knife positioned between saidapplicator and follow-up rollers, means to supply pressure fluid to saidactuating means to pivot said frame, means actuated by the pivoting ofsaid frame to cut said tape with said knife, and tape handling meanspositioned between said guide roller and said applicator roller to gripsaid tape upon the occurrence of slack therein by cutting and to releasesaid tape when under tension.

7. Tape applying apparatus comprising a support, a frame pivotallymounted on said support, actuating means to pivot said frame, a tapesupply roller rotatively mounted on said frame, a taping headresiliently attached to said frame, said head comprising a presser footpivotally mounted thereon and resiliently urged into an extendedposition, a rst guide roller, an applicator roller and a follow-uproller rotatively mounted on said foot, an arm pivotally attached tosaid foot, a second guide roller rotatively mounted on said arm, meansto feed tape from said supply roller over said guide, applicator andfollowup rollers and means to energize said actuating means to pivotsaid frame to cause said presser foot to press said tape against anobject to be taped.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,023,682 12/35Higginbottom 53--14 2,200,313 5/40 Volksdorf 53-14 2,834,168 5/58 Lopez53-137 2,892,293 6/59 Langdon 53-14 2,978,852 4/61 Hopkins et al 53--137FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. LEIGHEY, Examiner.

1. TAPE APPLYING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPORT, A FRAME PIVOTALLYMOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, ACTUATING MEANS TO PIVOT SAID FRAME, A TAPESUPPLY ROLLER ROTATIVELY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A TAPING HEADRESILIENTLY ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME, SAID HEAD COMPRISING A PRESSER FOORPIVOTALLY MOUNTED THEREON AND RESILIENTLY URGED INTO AN EXTENDEDPOSITION, A GUIDE ROLLER, AN APPLICATOR ROLLER AND A FOLLOWUP ROLLERROTATIVELY MOUNTED ON SAID FOOT, MEANS TO FEED TAPE FROM SAID SUPPLYROLLER OVER SAID GUIDE, APPLICATOR AND FOLLOW-UP ROLLERS AND MEANS TOENERGIZE SAID ACTUATING MEANS TO PIVOT SAID FRAME TO CAUSE SAID PRESSERFOOT TO PRESS SAID TAPE AGAINST AN OBJECT TO BE TAPED.